Spencer's First Love

My oldest sister was going away and we agreed to dog-sit her lhaso-apso'ish dog, Maggie. No problem. Our cat Dolly was relatively used to dogs, having had to endure many canine visitors over her 19 years of life. So long as they quickly grasped that she was the ruler of the roost all would be well, and it was so.

My youngest sister happened to be visiting us that same weekend and was agreeable to helping walk the dogs. She’d walk Maggie and I’d walk Spencer. But how would Maggie and Spencer take to each other? Well, it was love at first sight. Or maybe lust is a better word! Spencer wasn’t above making the sudden unexpected sexual advance despite his being spayed but Maggie’s snaps, barks and elusive manoeuvres managed to deter him. She didn’t hold his passion against him, however. Once past the sexual overtures, the two walked as though they’d been a pair all their lives; she, lively in her short, grey/black coat; he, in his woolly white. Spencer, of course, always tried to keep one step ahead of Maggie. Being male and dominant dog, perhaps this was typical dog behaviour. The walks were comical, amusing and interesting as both dogs sallied forth; Spencer showing Maggie his terrain, and Maggie enjoying her new surroundings, my sister and I doing the occasional waltz-like step around each other to untangle leashes. This idyllic arrangement lasted for 3 wonderful days until Maggie's folks came back and took her home.

It was almost heartbreaking to see Spencer’s anticipation as I harnessed him for his first Maggie-less walk. He thought she was waiting in the garage (which we pass through on our way to the street) as usual with my sister as had been the routine the last 3 days. He leapt from the doorway, flying over three steps and reaching the door in a single bound! No Maggie. He stood on hind feet looking out the window of the garage door. Maggie? Maggie? Out in the driveway, he frantically looked up, down, all around, sniffing at the same time. “Where’s my friend, where’s my friend?’

The good thing about dogs is they appear to accept newcomers with ease but also get over their disappointments more quickly than we humans do. Dejected, Spencer continued to look for her for much of the walk but by the time we headed home, he had accepted her disappearance with equanimity and was back to normal.

Maggie hasn’t visited again but I’m sure she will in the New Year, and when she does, will Spencer remember his first love? Stay tuned...